Overview
The Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI) is an initiative established by UNESCO-TWAS, with funding support from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This program is designed to strengthen the scientific and technological capacities of African nations that are lagging in these fields.
By targeting early-career researchers who have obtained their PhDs abroad and have recently returned or are about to return to their home countries, SG-NAPI aims to facilitate their reintegration into academia and research. The program provides financial support to promising, high-level research projects in diverse scientific disciplines, including Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Information and Computer Technology, Mathematics, Medical Sciences, and Physics.
Objectives
SG-NAPI was introduced to address the critical issue of insufficient research infrastructure and limited resources in many African institutions. By offering financial grants, the program allows researchers to acquire essential scientific equipment, consumables, and, in some cases, partial funding for fieldwork and maintenance of research tools.
The grant aims to:
- Foster scientific excellence in African nations by empowering new principal investigators (PIs) with the resources needed for impactful research.
- Enhance research productivity by ensuring access to essential equipment, materials, and literature.
- Support the career development of young African scientists and encourage their long-term commitment to research and teaching within their home institutions.
- Promote collaboration and knowledge exchange through funding for international conferences, industrial linkages, and mobility grants.
- Encourage female scientists returning from maternity leave through a dedicated component known as the scientist-after-child grant.
Program Details
SG-NAPI provides research grants to individual principal investigators leading scientific projects in eligible African countries identified by TWAS. The grants, which can amount to a maximum of USD 67,700, are typically awarded for a duration of 24 months and can be used for:
- The purchase of scientific equipment and laboratory consumables.
- Maintenance of research equipment, where necessary.
- Procurement of specialized literature, including textbooks and conference proceedings.
- Partial funding for fieldwork in exceptional cases.
- Financial support for MSc students involved in the research project.
- Grants for international conference participation, industrial collaborations, mobility, and open-access publications.
However, the grant does not cover:
- Salaries for the principal investigator or additional personnel.
- Travel expenses unless related to specific conference and mobility components.
- The purchase of fuel, consultancy fees, labor costs, laptops, tablets, drones, or laboratory animals.
Special Support for Women Scientists
Recognizing the challenges faced by female scientists who return to academia after maternity leave, SG-NAPI includes a specific funding component: the scientist-after-child grant. This initiative ensures that women scientists can reintegrate into research activities without career disruptions.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the SG-NAPI grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a national of an eligible African country that is scientifically and technologically underdeveloped, as identified by TWAS.
- Hold a PhD degree obtained in a country other than their home country.
- Have no more than five years of postdoctoral experience.
- Be 40 years old or younger (Applicants turning 41 in the application year are ineligible).
- Have returned to their home country within the last 36 months or must do so before the end of 2024.
- Hold or be in the process of securing a faculty or research position in a recognized academic or research institution in their home country.
- Not hold an active research grant with TWAS or the OWSD Early Career Women Scientists (ECWS) Fellowship at the time of application.
- Submit a strong research proposal demonstrating innovation and feasibility (resources on writing proposals can be accessed through AuthorAID).
Additionally, applications from female scientists and researchers from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are particularly encouraged.
Grant Administration and Agreement
If selected, the grant is governed by a trilateral agreement between TWAS, the principal investigator, and the home institution. The agreement stipulates that:
- The institution must administer the grant funds and provide necessary facilities, such as laboratory space and salaries for the PI.
- Equipment and consumables purchased through the grant remain the property of the home institution after project completion.
- TWAS retains grant funds and disburses them upon receiving proforma invoices for approved budget items.
- The PI must submit a final report within one year after the last purchase is made using the grant.
Application Process
- Applicants should carefully review the SG-NAPI guidelines to ensure compliance.
- Once the application call opens, submissions must be made online via the official TWAS portal (a link will be provided when applications open).
- Each applicant may only apply for one TWAS grant per calendar year, meaning that those applying for SG-NAPI cannot concurrently apply for TWAS Postdoctoral Fellowships, Visiting Scholar, or Visiting Researcher programs.
- Institutional heads inviting external scholars for the TWAS Visiting Professor or TWAS Visiting Expert programs may still apply for SG-NAPI.
Deadline for Submission
The deadline for applications is 27 March 2025. Early submission is strongly recommended to allow for proper processing and review.
Notification of Results
The SG-NAPI Grants Committee will evaluate applications, and successful applicants will be notified by the end of the year following the selection process.
Contact Information
For further inquiries about the SG-NAPI program, applicants can reach out to the TWAS SG-NAPI Grants Office via email: sgnapi@twas.org.
Conclusion
The Seed Grant for New African Principal Investigators (SG-NAPI) is a crucial initiative aimed at fostering scientific research and innovation in Africa. By providing essential financial support to early-career scientists, particularly those returning from international institutions, the program ensures that researchers have access to the tools and resources they need to conduct groundbreaking studies. Additionally, with targeted support for women scientists and Least Developed Countries, SG-NAPI contributes to a more inclusive and sustainable scientific ecosystem in Africa.
Visit official TWAS portal for more information
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